WO2013188902A1

WO2013188902A1 - Modular hearing aid

Info

Publication number: WO2013188902A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter John Blamey; Daniel Adam TAFT; Hayden Win PETERS
Original assignee: Blamey & Saunders Hearing Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-21
Filing date: 2013-05-29
Publication date: 2013-12-27
Also published as: AU2013204084A1

Abstract

A modular hearing aid comprises a device body and a modular component. The device body carries a hearing aid processor for processing microphone signals to produce an output acoustic signal for delivery to a respective ear of a user. The device body also has one or more body magnets. The modular component has at least one module magnet. The body magnet(s) and the module magnet(s) are configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body. The modular component could be a disposable battery component, or a rechargeable battery component in relation to which a magnetic modular recharging dock is provided. A data connector module is also provided, for wired or wireless communications with a hearing aid controller and/or an audio source and/or a second hearing aid positioned at an opposite ear of the user.

Description

MODULAR HEARING AID

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. AU2012902605 filed 21 June 2012, US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/662,613 filed 21 June 2012, and Australian Patent Application No. 2013204084 filed 11 April 2013, the contents of each of these applications being incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to hearing aids, and in particular relates to an improved modular design of a hearing aid body.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Hearing aids are typically designed with a device lifetime of about 5 years. With device miniaturisation very limited space is available for a battery to power the device. Rechargeable batteries which are small enough for use in hearing aids only have sufficient power for about one day of device operation, and typically can only be recharged about 500 times. Accordingly, a single rechargeable battery is not sufficient to power the device for 5 years. Providing a hearing aid with a "built-in" battery thus involves sacrificing most of the device life purely because of battery lifetime limitations, or at least requires that the device be returned to the supplier for mechanical dismantling, battery replacement, and reconstruction about every year.

[0004] An alternative is to provide the hearing aid device with a battery compartment which can be accessed by the user. However in this approach the hatch of the battery compartment is an extremely small moving part. Consequently, the hatch is fragile, and is also very difficult for the user to manipulate with fingers alone. This leads to a relatively high volume of mechanical repairs, particularly to the hatch of the battery compartment, leading to the same result in that the device often needs to be returned to the supplier before expiry of the device lifetime.

[0005] Many hearing aids also provide for a ribbon contact insertion slot to permit data transfer to and from the hearing aid. However, once again manipulation of a data ribbon connector into the slot requires difficult manipulation, and the data ribbon itself is a fragile part. Wireless connections, for example using an IEEE 802.11 protocol such as BlueTooth, are not a practical solution to this problem because a wireless transceiver on the hearing aid device would require approximately 20 times as much power as the hearing aid normally uses, and would rapidly drain the small hearing aid battery,

[0006] Presently, customers have difficulty making purchase decisions because of the trade-off of various features between hearing aid models. For example, the user must at the time of purchase select which battery size they require, which is a trade-off between device size and operation longevity. Similarly, hearing aid companies must stock a range of models with different features; some suppliers stock as many as 600 different hearing aid models. This imposes a cost of holding goods, and a cost of maintaining and supporting more parts and more software upon a business.

[0007] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

[0008] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to a first aspect the present invention provides a modular hearing aid comprising:

a device body carrying a hearing aid processor for processing microphone signals to produce an output acoustic signal for delivery to a respective ear of a user, the device body bearing at least one body magnet; and

a modular component having at least one module magnet,

wherein the at least one body magnet and the at least one module magnet are configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body.

[0010] According to a second aspect the present invention provides a device body for a modular hearing aid, the device body comprising: a hearing aid processor for processing microphone signals to produce an output acoustic signal for delivery to a respective ear of a user;

at least one body magnet configured to cooperate with at least one module magnet of a modular component in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body

[0011 ] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a modular component for releasable attachment to a hearing aid device body, the modular component having at least one module magnet configured to cooperate with at least one body magnet of the device body in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a recharging dock for a modular battery component of a hearing aid, the recharging dock comprising at least one dock magnet configured to cooperate with at least one module magnet of the modular battery component in order to releasably hold the modular battery component in the dock to effect electrical contact to enable a recharging current to be delivered to the battery while docked.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect the present invention provides a modular hearing aid kit, the kit comprising:

a plurality of interchangeable modular components each having at least one module magnet,

wherein the at least one body magnet and the at least one module magnet of each interchangeable modular component are configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body and permit interchanging of modular components.

[0014] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the modular component is a battery cover module, and the device body and the battery cover module when brought together define a battery cavity, and the body magnet of the device body and the module magnet of the battery cover module are positioned on opposing sides of the battery cavity and are separated by a battery when the battery is present in the cavity. Such embodiments are advantageous in that, when the battery cover module is separated from the device body in order to remove the battery, the battery will likely be magnetically held by either the body magnet or the module magnet, reducing the risk of the battery falling to the ground and being lost. In some such embodiments, the body magnet and module magnet are configured to have a magnetic strength that is sufficient to hold the battery cover in place only when ferromagnetic material, such as a battery comprising ferromagnetic material, is present within the battery cavity. Such embodiments are

advantageous in reducing the required size of the body magnet and the module magnet, and further are beneficial to device functionality in that the battery cover module will not be held to the device body if no battery is present, which advantageously gives the user an indication to insert a battery.

[0015] The at least one body magnet and the at least one module magnet are preferably configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with sufficient force that the modular component is unlikely to be dislodged during everyday acti vities of the user. For example, the body magnet and the module magnet are preferably configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is at least 0.7 N, more preferably at least 1 N, and more preferably at least 2 N. The at least one body magnet and the at least one module magnet are preferably configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with a small enough force that the modular component can be removed from the device body by hand by the user when desired. For example, the body magnet and the module magnet are preferably configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is no more than 6 N, and more preferably no more than 4 N. The body magnet and the module magnet are preferably each formed from neodymium iron boron, and preferably are formed in the shape of a disk. The disk may in some embodiments have a diameter of at least 1 mm, more preferably at least 1.5 mm. The disk may in some embodiments have a diameter of no more than 3 mm, more preferably no more than 2.5 mm. The disk may in some embodiments have a thickness of at least 1 mm, more preferably at least 1.5 mm. The disk may in some embodiments have a thickness of no more than 3 mm, more preferably no more than 2.5 mm. The body magnet and the module magnet may in some embodiments be configured to gi ve rise to a magnetic field at a distance of 0.5 mm of at least 1500 Gauss, more preferably at least 2,000 Gauss. The body magnet and the module magnet may in some embodiments be configured to give rise to a magnetic field at a distance of 0.5 mm of no more than 4000 Gauss, more preferably no more than 3,000 Gauss. [0016] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the device body and the modular component when brought together effect a seal in order to exclude dust, oils and the like, for example from the battery cavity.

[0017] In some embodiments the battery may be integrally formed with or fixedly attached to the battery cover, to form a battery module. In such embodiments the battery module may be reusable and the battery may be a rechargeable battery, and the present invention further envisages a battery recharging dock for receiving and recharging such battery modules. The battery recharging dock preferably comprises a recharger magnet to cooperate with the module magnet to magnetically capture the battery module for recharging. Alternatively, the battery module may be disposable and the battery may be a single-use battery. If required, the user may carry multiple such batteries in order to operate the device for extended periods such as many days or weeks.

[0018] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the modular component may comprise a data connector module, the data connector module having contacts configured to form an electrical contact with the device body, at times when the data connector module is magnetically held against the device body, to thereby permit data transfer to and/or from the device body via the data connector module. The data connector module may have a wired connection with a controlling device. Alternatively, the data connector module may be a wireless modular component comprising a wireless transceiver and a battery of sufficient size to operate the wireless transceiver. For example the wireless transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver or other IEEE 802.11 standard transceiver. The hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with a hearing aid controller, such as a personal computer executing hearing aid programming software, a mobile (cellular) telephone or similar portable device, or a remote control operated by the hearing aid user. Additionally or alternatively the hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with an audio source such as a television, radio, music player or the like, in order to deliver a higher fidelity signal from the audio source to the user by bypassing the acoustic environment between the audio source and the hearing aid, and also bypassing an induction loop or the like. Additionally or alternatively the hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with a second hearing aid positioned at an opposite ear of the user, in order to effect binaural signal processing between the user's two hearing aids. [0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention thus provide for the battery

compartment and/or the data port to be effected by an interchangeable part which requires significantly less dexterity to dock and undock.

[0020] The or each body magnet may, in addition to effecting the magnetic connection to the modular component, be arranged to serve as an electrical contact to convey electrical power and/or data to a processor within the device body. For example, the or each body magnet may be surfaced with a conductive material such as gold, in order to effect low resistivity electrical contact. A conducting path to the magnet contact may in some embodiments be completed by attaching a wire to the magnet using a conductive adhesive, or by providing a conductive wire having a magnetic tip which can be magnetically held against the magnet contact. Such embodiments may be advantageous in avoiding demagnetising the magnet, as may occur if the wire were to be soldered to the magnet. Where one or more surfaces of a battery serve as a contact of the battery, the magnet may effect electrical contact with any portion of the surface contact of the battery, easing requirements for precise alignment of the battery to a contact. The magnetic attraction between the magnet and the battery will ensure that a firm physical contact pressure between the magnet and the battery surface is maintained, thereby ensuring a reliable electrical contact.

[0021 ] Alternative embodiments may provide one or more electrical contacts on the device body for power and/or data transfer, each contact being separate from the body magnet.

Similarly some embodiments may provide one or more electrical contacts on the modular component, each contact being separate from the module magnet.

[0022] The output acoustic signal is preferably produced by a speaker positioned on or in the device body or by a detachable speaker positioned in the ear canal.

[0023] With a modular design, it is no longer essential for the customer to decide upon features such as batter size and device connectivity before purchasing. The choice to obtain a hearing aid, and the choice of which model of hearing aid to obtain, can be separated. For example the customer may keep a selection of interchangeable battery modules of differing size, and may choose to use larger or smaller batteries on different occasions with the same hearing aid device body. [0024] With a modular hearing aid, the product range which must be carried by a supplier may also be reduced, improving business efficiency.

[0025] The modular system in some embodiments may thus provide greater flexibility for different configurations. For exampl e, in one configuration, the functions of the battery charger, programmer interface, and remote control may be combined into a single system component. The battery charger would be powered optionally by a power transformer attached to the mains or by a USB connection to a computer. When connected to the computer via a USB cable, and to the or each hearing aid via a respective programmer cable module, the multifunction device could perform the function of the programmer interface. When connected to the or each hearing aid via a low-powered wireless connection or by Bluetooth wireless connection, the

multifunction device could be used as a remote control to turn the or each hearing aid on and off, to adjust the volume, to switch between programs, and so on. The remote control preferably controls both left ear and right ear hearing aids simultaneously, so that their volume settings and programs would be synchronised with one another.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hearing aid device body and battery module in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device body of Figure 1 ;

Fi gure 3 is an exploded view of the battery module of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates the device body of Figure 1 and a programmer module suitable for connection thereto;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the programmer module of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the reverse side programmer module of Figure 4, at a cross section level with the underside of the dummy battery module; and

Figure 7 is a system schematic showing reprogramming and recharging of binaural hearing aids in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments [0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hearing aid device body 110 and battery module 150 in accordance with one embodiment of the in vention. When brought together the body 110 and module 150 define a battery compartment whereby a cylindrical battery (not shown) makes contact with a negative terminal 1 12 and positive terminal 1 16 (see Figure 2) on the body 110 in order to power the processor and other circuitry (not shown) within the body 110.

[0028] Device body 1 10 is equipped with a rare earth magnet 1 16 (shown in Figure 2), and battery module 150 is equipped with a rare earth magnet 156 (shown in Figures 1 and 3). Each magnet 1 16, 156 is a disk of Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) of 2 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness, having a holding force of 3.3 Newtons against a steel plate, and a magnetic field of 2750 Gauss at a distance of 0.5 mm.

[0029] The body magnet 116 of the hearing aid module 1 10 and the module magnet 156 of the battery cover module 150 are positioned on opposing sides of the battery cavity and are separated by the battery when the battery is present in the cavity. This arrangement is advantageous in that, when the modules 110 and 150 are separated in order to remove the battery, the battery will likely be magnetically held by either the body magnet 116 or the module magnet 156, reducing the risk of the battery falling to the ground and being lost. In this embodiment the body magnet 1 16 and the module magnet 156 are configured to have a magnetic strength that is sufficient to hold the battery cover 150 in place only when ferromagnetic material, such as a battery comprising ferromagnetic material, is present within the battery cavity. This configuration is advantageous in reducing the required size of the body magnet 1 16 and the module magnet 156, and further adds to device functionality in that the modules 110, 150 will not be held together if the battery cavity is empty, which gives the user an indication to insert a battery. -

[0030] Magnets 116 and 156 are selected such that, when a suitable battery is interposed between the magnets, the magnets 116 and 156 cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component 150 against the device body 110 with sufficient force that the modular component 150 is unlikely to be dislodged during everyday activities of the user, but with a small enough force that the modular component 150 can be removed from the device body 110 by hand by the user when desired. [0031] In the embodiment of Figure 1 the battery is separate to both the device module 1 10 and the cover module 150. Alternative embodiments may form the battery integrally with or fixedly attached to the battery cover module 110 to form a disposable battery module or rechargeable battery module. The magnet 1 16 is gold-plated and is used as the positive battery connection. The gold-plated copper terminal 1 12 is the negative tenninal on the device side and makes direct connection with the negative battery connection.

[0032] Figure 4 illustrates the device body 1 10 of Figure 1 and a programmer module 450 suitable for connection thereto. In this embodiment the programmer module has a portion 452 formed in the shape of a "dummy" battery in order to dock with the device body 1 10. A module magnet 456 couples with magnet 1 16 to hold the programmer module 450 in place, when so desired. Because the programmer module magnet 456 comes into closer proximity to body magnet 1 16 than is ever the case for the battery compartment module magnet 156, magnet 456 may be configured to be considerably smaller and magnetically weaker than magnet 156.

Module magnet 456 and body magnet 116 in this embodiment are coated with gold to provide the positive power contact. As shown in Figure 6, module 450 further provides a negative power supply or earth contact 459 to power the device 110 during programming via power and data cable 460. Contact 459 is a gold-plated copper connection on the underside, or reverse side, of the dummy battery 452, configured to form electrical contact with the gold-plated copper connection 1 12. Further, laterally disposed data connections 458 are formed upon the programmer module 450, and are configured to make electrical contact with the corresponding data contacts 114 on the device module 110 to permit data transfer to and from the device, such as the transmission of programming data to the device.

[0033] Figure 7 is a system schematic showing reprogramming and recharging of binaural hearing aids in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6. Each modular hearing aid consists of a main HA module 1 10 with replaceable / alternative modules 150, 450, etc which may be for a single-use battery, rechargeable battery, programmer cable connection, wireless data connector module, or the like. The method of connecting the modules is by means of magnets. The IHearYou self- fitting hearing aid programming software available from Blarney & Saunders Hearing Pty Ltd, 364 Albert St, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia, is connected to the AHPro3 hearing aid programmer box adapter by a USB cable passing from the PC. The adapter is in turn connected to module 450 described previously. An alternative configuration to connect the self-fitting software to the hearing aid, which is also shown in Figure 7 and which can be selected when desired by selecting an appropriate interchangeable module 752/450 in accordance with the present invention, provides for a wireless Bluetooth connection from the PC to the hearing aid via BlueTooth programmer 752 which is connected to the hearing aid body via programming module 450.

[0034] As shown in Figure 7 the hearing aid body may be selectively interfaced with any module in the manner described in relation to the preceding figures, such as a wireless data connector module 760, programming module 450, battery module 150 or rechargeable battery module 750. Rechargeable module 750 may be undocked from the body 110 and docked with a battery charger 720 using a similar magnetic docking arrangement.

[0035] Reference herein to a "control device" includes control devices such as

microprocessors, discrete circuits, and analog circuits.

[0036] The hearing aid may be a behind-the-ear or in-the-ear hearing aid.

[0037] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device body for a modular hearing aid, the device body comprising:

a hearing aid processor for processing microphone signals to produce an output acoustic signal for delivery to a respective ear of a user;

2. The device body of claim 1, wherein the at least one body magnet is configured to cooperate with at least one module magnet in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with sufficient force that the modular component is unlikely to be dislodged during everyday activities of the user.

3. The device body of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one body magnet is configured to cooperate with at least one module magnet in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with a small enough force that the modular component can be removed from the device body by hand by the user when desired.

4. The device body of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each body magnet is additionally arranged to serve as an electrical contact to convey electrical power and/or data to or from the hearing aid processor.

5. The device body of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising one or more electrical contacts for power and/or data transfer, each contact being separate from the body magnet.

6. A modular component for releasable attachment to a hearing aid device body, the modular component having at least one module magnet configured to cooperate with at least one body magnet of the device body in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body.

7. The modular component of claim 6, wherein the at least one module magnet is configured to cooperate with at least one body magnet in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with sufficient force that the modular component is unlikely to be dislodged during everyday activities of the user

8. The modular component of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the at least one module magnet is configured to cooperate with at least one body magnet in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body with a small enough force that the modular component can be removed from the device body by hand by the user when desired.

9. The modular component of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the modular component is a battery cover, bearing a battery of sufficient capacity to power a hearing aid.

10. The modular component of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the modular component comprises a data connector module, the data connector module having contacts configured to form an electrical contact with the device body at times when the data connector module is magnetically held against the device body, to thereby permit data transfer to and/or from a hearing aid device body via the data connector module.

11. The modular component of claim 10 wherein the data connector module comprises a wired connection to a controlling device.

12. The modular component of claim 10 wherein the data connector module comprises a wireless transceiver and a battery of sufficient capacity to power the wireless transceiver.

13. The modular component of any one of claims 10 to 12, configured such that a hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with a hearing aid controller.

14. The modular component of any one of claims 10 to 13, configured such that a hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with an audio source in order to deliver a higher fidelity signal from the audio source to the user by bypassing the acoustic environment between the audio source and the hearing aid.

15. The modular component of any one of claims 10 to 13, configured such that a hearing aid may communicate via the data connector module with a second hearing aid positioned at an opposite ear of the user, in order to effect binaural signal processing between the user's two hearing aids.

16. The modular component of any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein the or each module magnet is arranged to serve as an electrical contact to convey electrical power and/or data to or from a processor within the device body.

17. The modular component of any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein one or more electrical contacts are provided on the device body for power and/or data transfer, each contact being separate from the body magnet.

18. A modular hearing aid comprising:

a device body in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5; and

a modular component in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 17,

19. The modular hearing aid of claim 18, wherein the modular component is a battery cover module, and the device body and the battery cover module when brought together define a battery cavity, and the body magnet of the device body and the module magnet of the battery cover module are positioned on opposing sides of the battery cavity and are separated by a battery when the battery is present in the cavity.

20. The modular hearing aid of claim 19, wherein the body magnet and module magnet are configured to have a magnetic strength that is sufficient to hold the battery cover in place only when ferromagnetic material, such as a battery comprising ferromagnetic material, is present within the battery cavity.

21. The modular hearing aid of claim 19 or 20 wherein the body magnet and the module magnet are configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is at least 0.7 N.

22. The modular hearing aid of claim 21 wherein the body magnet and the module magnet are configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is at least 1 N.

23. The modular hearing aid of claim 22 wherein the body magnet and the module magnet are configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is at least 2 N.

24. The modular hearing aid of any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein the body magnet and the module magnet are configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is no more than 6 N.

25. The modular hearing aid of claim 24 wherein the body magnet and the module magnet are configured to have a holding force against a steel plate which is no more than 4 N.

26. The modular hearing aid of any one of claims 18 to 25 wherein the device body and the modular component when brought together effect a seal in order to exclude dust and oils.

27. A recharging dock for a modular battery component of a hearing aid, the recharging dock comprising at least one dock magnet configured to cooperate with at least one module magnet of the modular battery component in order to releasably hold the modular battery component in the dock to effect electrical contact to enable a recharging current to be delivered to the battery while docked.

28. A modular hearing aid kit, the kit comprising:

a device body in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5; and

a plurality of interchangeable modular components each in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 17,

wherein the at least one body magnet and the at least one module magnet of each interchangeable modular component are configured to cooperate together in order to releasably hold the modular component against the device body and permit interchanging attachment of modular components to the device body.